CHICAGO — I resisted writing in the wake of your article about “The leaks in Titanic,” March 1. However, the torrent of letters in the March 8 paper makes me want to join the fun.
First, I like the movie–a lot. I am not immune to its holes and illogic, nor to the anachronisms it contains. It’s just that, at the end of the day, I DON’T CARE.
Titanic is far more than the sum of its pieces and parts. It rises above the carping to deliver a hammer blow to the heart. As a document on the disaster it goes farther than anyone has dreamed of going before. Are there things to quibble about? Of course.
I think most of the complaining we’re hearing from you folks in the media comes from a desire to fill yet more column inches with something, anything, about a subject that people can’t seem to get enough of. Also, critics love to slam something that masses of people love. If it’s popular, it must at heart be junk–right? To be art it must be obscure, difficult to comprehend and unintelligible to the plain people. Snobbery and elitism certainly didn’t die with the Titanic, did they?
– Dennis R. Kromm
LELAND — All the responses to the Titanic Trashing provided the best read in the Arts section for the entire movie season. That much of it was posturing is evident and no more so than Ann Franczak and George Paterson’s doubting that “giving the finger” was part of 1912 vernacular. If they had bothered to look in “The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang,” page 745, they would find that the Romans were doing more than thumbs up or down at the arena. They were happily employing the digitus impudicus to indicate their contempt for someone long before “sheltered” young ladies wandered eagerly into gamekeeper’s cottages.
– Gerald R. Shields
ELMHURST — Frankly, I don’t understand the countless angry letters responding to the Tribune’s “The Leaks in Titanic.” I saw the movie the same day you published the article and upon returning home from the theater, I was anxious to delve into your lighthearted and interesting take on the movie. Personally, I loved the movie and enjoyed your article. Sure, there were moments when I leaned over to my wife and whispered during some of its less believable moments.
“Titanic” is a great film and your article only added to my enjoyment of it by offering interesting tidbits I otherwise may not have noticed. For all those people who feel your article ruined it for them, I say: Get a life!
– Abel Sanchez
CHICAGO — I’m sure you are all sick of reading letters about your list, I just wanted to offer my praise to all of you for having the courage to speak up on what seems to be so TABOO!
– Kyle Kittleson
OLYMPIA FIELDS — Let’s accept the Titanic for what it is–an escape; a great movie. Let’s quit overanalyzing it. For those who criticize it I say, “Relax and get a life!!”
– Sharon McEldowney
CHICAGO — I find it truly frightening that a lot of people are getting really worked up over your opinion on the movie! IT’S ONLY A MOVIE!
– Caitlin Stephenson
WILMETTE — I can tell you in two words why teens (girls, at least) would see this movie multiple times. LEONARDO DICAPRIO. Most of these people are too dazed and confused by him, that they don’t have time to notice all the things you mentioned in your article! I’m not insulting these girls, I’m probably one of them! I’m just trying to say that “Titanic” was maybe that much better for them, because Leo was the hero.
– Whitney Dibo
ITASCA — Dorothy Sandstrom (“What I cannot forgive any of you for is what you did to my grandson. . ., ” Letters, March 8) should not be so hard on you. Think of what this discussion has done for her grandson. He is learning valuable critical thinking skills.
– Chris Meadows
CHICAGO — Personally I liked the movie.
I think the leaks you (and the dozens of readers) pointed out are right, though; although I wouldn’t have noticed them without “your help.”
Anyway, I’m just writing to say that as a foreign exchange (from Chile) student, it was a lot of fun to see how American people interact with the community’s newspaper, expressing their own feelings about the articles.
– Marcela Burgos
OSHKOSH, Wis. — I work at the only movie theater in my town. I was excited to see “Titanic” and work on the promotions for it. I have seen the movie and I will say that it is good. But all the pathetic addictions to the movie have made me feel negative towards it.
There are people who have come in since the movie opened and still come every weekend. Is a movie really worth three and a half hours every Saturday and Sunday?
– S.J. Bartelt
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — It is amazing to me that before the movie, “Titanic” was released, everybody was bashing the studios for spending that much money on a film and how the money could be better spent feeding the hungry. They quickly shut up on opening day when they saw that it might make some money. Now that the movie is making millions and millions, people are starting their criticisms again. It seems nobody can stand success from excess.
Because the movie is so successful, why do you even bother telling what you think is wrong? Haven’t you heard the phrase, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? Are you suggesting that if James Cameron had not done the things you point out, the film would make two billion dollars?
I guess when George Lucas finishes filming the “Star Wars” prequel, he should preview it for you, so instead of making a billion dollars, he could make more.
– Peter Kirby
———-
Send letters to Arts & Entertainment, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 60611. Or e-mail to tbannon@tribune.com.
Please include your name, address and phone number.
